TALLAHASSEE -- For the first time ever, evolution is to be taught clearly and explicitly in Florida classrooms now that the state Board of Education approved a batch of new science standards Tuesday that mention the ''E'' word.

But there's a catch: The subject will be taught as ``the scientific theory of evolution.''

As originally proposed, the science standards, updated for the first time since 1996, didn't call evolution a ''theory'' when they were drafted and reviewed by a panel of experts last year. Following numerous public complaints, though, the state Department of Education suggested the wording change to clearly label every scientific law and theory -- not just about evolution -- as such.

The seven-member board adopted the alternate proposal, and therefore the standards, by a 4-3 vote.

Religious advocates wanted more.

They proposed a so-called ''academic freedom'' amendment to counter what they say is the ''dogmatic'' tone of the standards that call evolution ''the fundamental concept underlying all of biology.'' The amendment would have given teachers explicit permission ``to engage students in a critical analysis of that evidence.''

But supporters of the standards and a majority of the board said the proposal was anything from unnecessary to redundant to suspect. After all, the standards already encourage ``scientific argumentation . . . critical and logical thinking, and the active consideration of alternative scientific explanations to explain the data presented.''

Board member Donna Callaway of Tallahassee, who made frequent reference to her faith, tried to get the ''academic freedom'' measure considered but couldn't get other members to go along.

''If we decide that we're going to hide this debate and we're going to hide the controversy, and we're going to hide the fact that thousands of people disagree, then we better get with the witness protection program,'' she said. ``This is a point of debate, and we need to address it right here.''

Board member Roberto Martinez of Miami replied: ``Respectfully, Donna, it is not a form of debate, or controversy, in the mainstream scientific community.''

He was cut off by applause and whistling from the pro-evolution crowd at the packed hearing. Until then, the evolution critics had hissed and muttered when Martinez said evolution was really a fact.

But Martinez and Callaway had this in common: Both voted against the standards -- Callaway because she wanted a less ''dogmatic'' tone on evolution, Martinez because he wanted the original standards as drafted and as praised by the National Academy of Sciences. He said he was concerned that calling evolution a theory -- even a ''Scientific Theory'' -- would still confuse the two common definitions of the word: a simple guess, or a scientific and testable concept based on facts.

LOWERED STANDARDS

Martinez also made a passing reference to a 2005 federal Pennsylvania court ruling that considered an alternative to evolution, called Intelligent Design, and found it to be more religion than science.

''What's going on here is an effort by people who are opposed to evolution to water down our standards,'' Martinez said. ``No matter how much the current strategy may have evolved in the past 20 years, the DNA is the same. . . creationism.''

Board member Akshay Desai voted against the standards because of the use of the word ''theory.'' All seven members, though, said the new standards are an improvement over the 10-year-old version.

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